Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table Announces 2025 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List Titles and Top Ten List

ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) is pleased to announce the 2025 Best Graphic Novels for Adults (BGNA) Reading List and Top Ten List. This reading list highlights the best graphic novels for adults published in late 2024 through 2025, and it aims to increase awareness of the graphic novel medium, raise voices of diverse comics creators, and aid library staff in the development of graphic novel collections. The 2025 BGNA Top Ten List features such titles as: Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt's Journey to His Musical Language, Confession, Dogs and Punching Bags, Ginseng Roots: A Memoir, Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theater, Helen of Wyndhorn, Love Languages, More Weight: A Salem Story, Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story, Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day.

TheBest Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List Selection Committee is made up of GNCRT members with a background in graphic novel selection and their use in adult programming and services. Joseph Pascullo, selection committee chair, said, “I am super excited that our list is finally going live! Our committee worked really hard on it over the past year. We held monthly discussion meetings, and really deliberated over a ton of worthy, contending titles. And while we couldn't in good faith put every single title on, we truly do feel like the titles found on our final product do represent the best of the best that 2025 had to offer in graphic novels for adults. I want to personally shoutout all of the committee members, since this would not have been possible without all of their dedication. Hoping everyone enjoys our list!”

The complete 2025 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List, including the Top Ten list, is available online on the GNCRT website.

In creating and publishing these lists, the GNCRT has followed its resolution to honor the entire creative team (including writers, artists, letterers, colorists, and translators) involved in the books listed.

The Best Graphic Novels for Adults selection committee for 2025 is comprised of Joe Pascullo (Chair),

Louise Lalonde (Administrative Assistant), Deborah Zeman, J. Jared Alvarez Ginés, Mark Conner, William Kist, Sarah Maciejewski, Laila Mai-Nguyen, Makilah Sullivan, Meg Miller, Ashlynn Bell, and Aidan Skipper-Martinez.

The Best Graphic Novels for Adults committee would like to recognize and thank Midwest Tape for allowing all committee members free access to Hoopla® during this term of service, and the committee would also like to recognize and thank LibraryPass and Comics Plus for access to their services during the committee term.

Nominations for the 2026 Best Graphic Novel for Adults Reading List are now open! Nominations can be made by all members of the public, committee members and ALA members and must be submitted by midnight CST on September 15, 2026.

Eligible graphic novels for the 2025 Best Graphic Novels for Adults will include all fiction and non-fiction titles published between September 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026, that appeal to adults age 19 or older. Nominations can be made by all members of the public, including committee members, library workers, educators, and comics fans through the online form.

Publishers and creators are welcome to submit copies of titles to the committee for review, though they are not eligible to nominate their own titles for consideration. Find more information on how to submit review copies.

About the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table

The Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table of the American Library Association is dedicated to supporting library staff in all aspects of engaging with graphic novels and comics, including collection development, programming, and advocacy. For more information, connect with GNCRT on Discord; BlueSky: @libcomix; Instagram: @libcomix; or the GNCRT ALA Connect page.

About ALA

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.